Wings Darcy Graham and Kyle Steyn scored two tries each as Scotland beat France 50-40 in Edinburgh on Saturday to earn a bonus-point win that ensures the Six Nations Championship will be decided in the final round next weekend.
Despite the defeat, the try-scoring bonus-point means France top the table on points difference from Scotland with both teams on 16 points from their five matches. Ireland are still in the mix with 14 points.
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As the Scots wore down France with high-tempo play in the Edinburgh sunshine, prop Pierre Schoeman and scrumhalf Ben White also crossed for tries and they recorded more points than France.
The visitors scored tries through wings Louis Bielle-Biary and Theo Atissagbe, scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, fullback Thomas Ramos (two) and flanker Oscar Jegou, but coach Fabian Galthy is concerned about two yellow cards and his discipline under pressure.
‘anything is possible’
France have +79 and Scotland +21 points difference, so France have the advantage ahead of their final game at home against England, but Scotland should go to Ireland and Steve Borthwick’s side could surprise.
“The tournament is not over for us yet. We have a chance next week,” said Scotland captain Sione Tupulotu.
“We have an airtight change room. We stuck together after that tough first round (loss to Italy). We rallied behind our coach (Gregor Townsend) and I can see the narrative changing.
“Anything is possible now. A lot of people wrote off Ireland too at the start of the tournament, but we’re both still in the Championship.”
France’s Emmanuel Meifau admits his side have been outplayed, but is quick to focus on England’s challenge.
“The Grand Slam was the target, but we are still looking to win the competition,” he said. “We’ll take this loss and get it back next week and face England.
“Scotland got on us early in the first half, and then carried it on in the second. We gave ourselves a lot of hill to climb at the end, but credit to Scotland.”
Scotland scored four tries in a Six Nations match against France for the first time since the 1999 Championship final, when they last won the title.
Rally France
A late burst from the visitors reduced the scoreline at Murrayfield and denied Scotland the margin of a record victory.
Graham scored a Scottish record 36th international try to open the scoring five minutes from time, before Baille-Biare scored a try and Atissagbe set up another for France to go 14-7 up.
But from there Scotland turned the screw, winning clashes and playing at a pace that France could not contain.
(With France 24 Reuters)
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